Assianor to bethlehem



May 30, 1933. J M, op- 1,911,509

SWITCH HEATER Filed Jan. 12, 1931 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 J. M. HOFFER SWITCH HEATER May 30, 1933.

Filed Jan. 12, 1931 2 SheetsSheet 2 :illiw a N N MN Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE); 7

:mivrnsjmntonon HOFFER, on srnnnron,PunnsvLv nrA, Assr NoRronE'rnLEnEM V srnnn conrnnnn con-ronerron or rnnnsynvnnrn SWITCH HEATER Application-filed. January 12, 1931. SerialNo. 508,101,

This invention'relates to improvements in heating devices and has particular reference to-a means for heating railway switches.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive and effective device ofthe class described which will thoroughly heat the switch points to prevent the accumulation of snow and ice thereon. Another object of the invention resides in theprovision ofa cover, having novel features of purpose. and design, for the burner.

The novel features will be more fully understood from the folowing description and claimstaken with thedrawings.

Fig. 1 is 'a plan view of part ofa railway switch showing theheaters inposition therewith- 7 Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 22 of Fig.1; a h I Fig. 3 is a plan-view of the heater; a

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the heater partly in section; V p 1 Fig. 5shows an end view of the heater; and, Figs-6 and 7 are plan and elevation views respectively, of the cover-forthe burner. I

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the track rails, 11 the movable switch rails, and 12 the cross-ties supporting the rails. The heater consists of a rectangular boxlike structure 13 whichforms the compartment for the supply of a liquid'fuel such as oil. At one end of the box is located a burner tube 14 which projects through an opening in the top of the box and extends downwardly to the bottom of the fuel compartment. This tube is rectangular-in section, the bottom end being slotted to establish communication between the fuel compartment and the wick l5, which-substantially fills the tube. Thewick may be composed of any suitable non-combustible absorbent, such as mineral wool, asbestos fibre, orthe like, so as to conduct the oil to the burning end of the wick by capillary attraction. The burner tube is welded to the box at the junction of the opening through the top of the box and the walls of the tube.

A sliding cover 16 is provided for the upper end of the burner, to protect the wick from the weather when not in use and for the additional purpose of regulating the flame according toits position over the burner. The

cover is formed from a flat .plate,flanged along its longitudinal edges so as to overlap the burner tube. The flangesare made de epe er at the rear end of the coverto formheels 17,,which are adapted 'toride on the topof the box while the underside of the cover rests upon the burner tube and flush therewith as shown in, Fig. 4; The coverv is provided with a slot 18, through which projects a bolt 19, secured to the .box, to limit the movement of the cover. A wingnut 20 is eniljlOyedto clamp the cover in any desired 1 position frelativeto theburner, It will be noted that the heel 17 is at a-ll times to the rear of the bolt 19 when thecover is in position on the heater, and when the nut 20 is tightened, the front end of the cover is pressed tightly against the top of the burner tube.

The bolt is welded to thebox so as to seal the hole through which it passesand to hold it in position. At the front end of the cover, a portion 2l-is cut away to conform with the inside opening of the burner tube. This leaves-proj ecting portions 22, adapted to re-- main in contact with the top and sides of the burner when the cover is in its fully retracted position without blanking anyportion of the burner. ,j The slot in the cover being located so that the cover cannot be moved backwardly beyond this position. The upturned portion 23 provides ahandlefor the cover. v

The filling spout 24 is provided with a hinged cover 25 which is adapted to prevent water from entering the box. The hinge bracket 26 is formed with stops 27 which preventthe cover from being opened beyond a predetermined position so that the cover will close automatically of its-own weight, when released.- I I Tothe sides of the box, adjacentthe burner, areattached blinds 28, for the purpose of keeping-the burner in spaced relation to the base of the rail and to prevent the flamefrom coming into contact with the cross ties when the heater is positioned under the rails and between the ties.v I i A handle 29 iswelded to, the rear endof the heater for convenience inlhandling,

In operation this invention provides a heating device particularly adapted for heating railway-switches in cold weather. The heater may be positioned between two switch ties as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The burner 14 is adjusted under the switch rails, with the blinds 28 touching the bottoms of the rails. A number of the heaters may be utilized throughout the length of the switch system, as disclosed in the drawings.

WVhen the heater is not in use, the cover 16' is moved forward, covering the burner, and clamped in place by means of the wing nut 20. When snow or sleet occurs, the nut is released and the cover moved back to the extent of the slot 18, or to any position within the length of the slot, and again secured by the nut. Thus, by being able to clamp the cover at any position, the area of the burner exposed for combustion may be positively fixed, and without'tendency of the cover being displaced by the vibration of thecar' wheels passing over the rails. The feature of the clamped cover also prevents dirt and water from fouling the burner when not in use, as the cover may be held in positive and tight contact with the top of edges of burner. Any water accumulating onthe top of the heater cannot enter the heater through the burner tube, as it projects above the top of the box.

Under certain weather conditions it may not be necessary to use the full area of the burner, therefore, being able to secure the cover in any position over the burnerQeconomy is effected in the consumption of fuel.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is'not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modificae tions without departing from the spirit there of, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim' as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1, A switch heater comprising a fuel rec'eptacle, a burner projecting above the top of the receptacle, a cover slidably mounted over the burner, said cover beingsupported at one end by'the burner, and at its other end by the top portion of the receptacle, meansto limit the sliding movement of the cover, and means for clamping the cover to the burner.

2. A switch heater comprising a fuel receptacle, a burner tube projecting above the top of the receptacle, a cover slidably mounted over the burner,rmeans to transversely retain'the cover in position on the burner, said cover being supported at one end by the burner, and at its other end by'the top portion of the receptacle, means to limit the sliding movement ofthe cover, and means for clamping the cover to'the ceptacle.

the slidin movement of the cover and clamping means for the cover.

4:. A switch heater comprising a fuel receptacle, a burner tube projecting above the top of said receptacle and extending to the bottom thereof, an absorbent material said tube, a slidable cover for the projecting end of said tube, said cover Being fl'a'n-ged along its longitudinal edges so asto overlap said tube and to form a? heel at the rear end ofthe cover adaptedto rest upon the top ofthe receptacle for the purpose of maintaining the cover in horizontal alignment with the top of the burner, means to limit the sliding movement of the cover, andcl'ampingmeans for the cover. a y Y 5'. A switch heater comprising a fuel recs-p tacle, a burner tube projecting above thet'op of said receptacle and extending to the bottom thereof, an absorbent material in said tube, a slidable cover for the projecting end of said tube, saidcover beingflanged alon its longitudinal edges so as to overlap said tube, the flanges at the rear end of the cover being of greater depth than at the front end, a slot through the top of the cover and intermediate its ends, a bolt secured to the top of said receptacle and adapted to extend upwardly through said slot, and a nut for the bolt. I

6. A cover for a switch heater formed with a burner, said cover comprising an elongated channel section having a top WGbPOItlGII and dependingside flanges of greater depth at the rear end of the cover than at the front end, a slotthrough the web portion of said section, the rear end of said slot being positioned forward of the point of greatest depth of'said flanges, the front end of said web-portion beingformed with a recess to conform with the inside opening of the burner, and a handle for the cover.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JAMES MELCHOR Ho'r nR. 1

burner and to the re- 

